Almost Done!!!!!

Today was my last day of my inclusive two weeks in the classroom without Mrs. Rangel. I am really glad it is over, but it was such a great experience. The only reason I really am glad to see the time end is because I never felt totally in control of every aspect of the classroom, and by this I mean and I never felt like I knew where everything was located and where Mrs. Rangel kept this or that. Otherwise, I did well. Other staff in the building have been telling Mrs. Rangel how well I've done and that makes me happy.

Deby called me yesterday in tears, I could hardly understand her in the voice mail. All I really got out of it was that Adam won't talk to her and Ashley said she was going to hit her or beat her up or something - the got into a fight that day - and she was really upset. I honestly do not understand what goes on in that boy's head sometimes and if he wasn't in Iraq right now I would slap him upside the head for being such a dumbass. He and Deby didn't always get along when they were living together, but she is still family and yes he and Ashley have been dating for a long time now, but she's not family yet and she has a nasty little habit of lying about things so Adam will feel like he has to stand up for her or some bullshit. She runs to him crying about how so and so said this and blah blah blah, when she made it all up just to try to drive wedges between him and other people. She tried to do it to me and that was one time Adam would not stand for it at all because when it comes to that aspect of his life, Ashley has little say at all. That's why I don't understand why he won't do the same thing for Deby, afterall, she is family and I'm not. I don't know and I didn't get the whole story because I was at work when she called and her phone was off when I called her back. If it was an argument like any of the ones she and Adam had while they were living together, then I know it was bad; Adam is very good at verbally cutting people down, which, big surprise...He's never done it to me but I've seen it first hand with other people and know what the aftermath looks like. His problem is he doesn't take too well to people standing up to him, which Deby and I both did, so I don't get why he reacts to me one way and her another, but the bottom line is, if Ashley doesn't cut this shit out, then Adam really will have a reason to fight with me when he comes home.

I don't know what Wendall's deal is. He didn't eat for a couple days and then he was eating just fine. He's being such a wiener right now, I don't know what to do with him. I should probably take him to the vet.

Nothing else really exciting going on. None of the above mentioned was really all that exciting either, it's just what has been going on in the last couple days. I had better get to work on my portfolio, this bitch is almost done and I can turn it in and be done with UNL and Nebraska forever. Well, in May I can be done with them forever. I really hate this place just a little more every day and I don't think I have ever been so miserable in one place in my entire life. Maybe that's because I actually liked where I lived before and over time Lincoln has just become this really craptastic place that I can't wait to never see again.

Places I want to live before I die (In no particular order):
1. somewhere in Alaska
2. Boston
3. New York City
4. Los Angeles
5. San Francisco

Places I would rather die than live in (in no particular order)
1. Omaha (This really is #1 though)
2. anywhere in Iowa
3. anywhere in Texas
4. San Diego
5. Chapel Hill, NC

Someday. I will live in all 5 of those places before I die. I am not sure where I'd actually want to settle and raise my children, but I would like to go back to Minnesota to do that. I am almost certain, however, that Nebraska will never be 'home'.

Working on a Saturday

But I really don't mind it at all. I am in Burnett, some freshmen are doing some test thing and I didn't really listen to the administrator, I am just working on my portfolio and getting paid to do it. Sweet.

Normally I am not very sympathetic toward anyone for whatever reason, but on our way to campus this morning I saw something that made me sad: Drake and I were driving down 16th street and this man was running and started waving his arms and at first I didn't know why, but I looked ahead and saw a bus at the bust stop and this poor man was just running as fast as he could and it was raining and I knew there was no way he was going to make it. Sure enough, the bus pulled away from the stop and this man was left standing in the rain, still a block and a half from where he needed to be. People say I have no feelings, or that I am heartless, which I admit heck yes, most of the time I am cold and heartless because a lot of people deserve it, but for some reason this was tugging at my heart strings a lot. What if he had some where important to be? What if he was going to see his son or daughter? What if his mother needed his help with something? What if, what if, what if. I know there is nothing I can do about it, especially now, an hour and a half later, but things like that really get to me sometimes.

I am getting sick again, darn kids. But they are adorable and I still love them to pieces. We got a new student on Friday and already he is a handful. His mom tried making excuses when she first brought him in, but what parent doesn't? She was saying he doesn't like to line up, has a hard time listening to teachers, doesn't like to be told what to do, etc. Know what he excuse was? "Daycare is all he's ever known so he just wants to play all the time." HELLO! Daycare is all most of these children have ever known, yet they manage to sit at carpet or complete there work, so looks like you need to work on the discipline a little bit there, Mom.

I am a bit disappointed: this weekend is the Vikings/Packers game at home and for the first time in I don't know how many years, I am going to miss it. We have had season tickets for well over ten years now, and of those ten years, I believe prior to this weekend I have missed on one or two of this epic events. It doesn't matter how poorly the Vikings or Packers are playing - for some reason this game (usually) brings out the best in both teams. I remember one season in particular, probably eight years ago now or so, I know it has been a while, the Vikings were having a really really bad season and had very few wins (no jokes, please). However, we DID get the last laugh because of those very few and far between wins, two of them came at the expense of the Packers, who were having a good season. That makes me happy. This season is shaping up to be pretty crappy for both teams thus far though, so we will see how Sunday turns out.

Wendall is getting better. He was a little under the weather, there were soft spots on his shell - and anyone who knows anything about turtles knows that this can mean death for them if their shells rot, but I called the vet and spoke to some people at PetCo and he is going to be fine. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to Wendall, I've spent so much time taking care of him (yes, turtles can be high maintenance, thank you very much) that it would be strange not having him around. But he's getting better and spending time in the sun has helped him a lot.

Kim is coming today! I am so stoked, I haven't seen her in ages. I get about an hour break for lunch so we are going to go hang out for a little bit before I have to be back here in Burnett for the second session, and I am kicking myself now because I forgot my camera. Oh well, I am sure she will have hers. She was in Norfolk taking pictures for a friend's wedding and she said she would do mine and Drake's wedding, so yay. No, don't freak out people, there's no ring yet and no date set so don't think you are out of the loop or anything, it just is what it is and yes, that day will come.

But alas, time to work on the portfolio, I can't wait to get this thing done, graduate, and get out of this place and never come back to Nebraska again.

Days til 'FRIENDS: The One With All Ten Seasons' comes out on DVD - 23!!!!!!!

Wendell...and stuff

I'm not sure exactly how many people know this but I have an very adorable red eared slider turtle named Wendell. I absolutely love him and think he is one of the most adorable things on this planet. Originally my friend Shona and I were working on a project at her apartment last semester and she showed me her new turtle she got, named Wendell. I thought he was so cute that I wanted one of my own. Once I got settled into my new apartment after the semester was over, I went in search of a red eared slider turtle to call my own. Unfortunately I found out it is illegal to sell baby red eared sliders in Lancaster Country because the babies can carry salmonella. Yuck. If the shell is smaller than four inches, they can't be sold. Well, Wendell is waaaaay smaller than four inches, his shell is now a little bigger than a 50 cent piece. Anyway, so I was kind of sad about all this, but decided I would go to Hastings where Shona got hers. Then she told me she would sell Wendell to for cheap because her cat Cleo, tried to eat him one day. Thus, no trip to Hastings and I saved a lot of money. Originally I wanted to name my own turtle Merle, after Teetz's dad, but I couldn't bear to change Wendell's name even though Shona okayed it. So my turtles full name is Wendell Merle, and that way he gets the best of both worlds. He's a lot more active than he used to be and that makes me happy. For a while he just kind of sat around and didn't do much but now his aquarium is looking pretty snazzy if I do say so myself, which I do say, so it's true. He likes to burrow into the rocks and try to bury himself under them, but unfortunately there aren't enough for him to do so. He is fun to watch, I am very happy I got him. I just wish he grew a little faster, though Drake says he can tell he's gotten bigger. I guess I just don't see it because I see Wendell every day, whereas Drake may be here every day but he pays little attention to my baby.

On my way home from work tonight I was driving behind a Toyota Tundra. Damn, it took up a lot of room, and was in general not very attractive. It was also slow, which annoyed me.

Last weekend to go out and have real fun, so we're going to Sandy's around 9:30 or so for those of you old enough to partake in the festivities. Teetz said he'd go drink for drink with me, which will be entertaining so the camera is definitely coming along for this one!

It's hard to believe I am starting my final semester as an undergraduate at UNL. I am anxious to get out, I am sick of Nebraska and really want something new, though I know I will be here until next May. I think what it really comes down to is the bullshit Financial Aid pulls all the time, I am tired of the red tape and the hoops I have to jump through. I love all my friends dearly though and am very lucky to have found them true ones who matter, and to have rid myself of the two-faced ones. I really feel I am at the point in my life where all the toxic people are gone and I don't have to associate with them anymore. It makes things much more simple. I am a bit sad though, I was driving down Greek Row (that's 16th street for those of you not in the know) and saw everyone moving in and gearing up for another year, it's weird not moving back into the dorms, though I am grateful for not having to wear flip-flops in the shower anymore. However, because Drake is an RA - in Cather, of all dorms, ha ha - I will be there quite often. This should make for some interesting times, though Drake would prefer those times be kept to a minimum. I certainly do not miss the sorority life at all, I am glad that chapter in my life has closed. I miss the amazing women I call friends who I met through the chapter, but I am glad to be done with Meeting and Recruitment and the like. It was so stressful and silly at times, but it was a necessary evil to maintain the chapter. This is getting depressing, I am not going to be sad really when I am done, I just know how different things are now. One thing that will bum me out about this year is that most of my friends are graduating in May, while I am going in December. I think Kayleen and I are the only two graduating in the middle of the year, but Drake, Teetz and Britt are all May kiddos. At least Kayleen and I can make faces at each other just to stay awake through the ceremony. I wasn't going to go to it even, but Mom, and pretty much my entire family would kill me if I didn't. I'm psyched to start planning the party, it will be awesome.

Speaking of parties, the other night Britt and I watched Laguna Beach, and the season premier of My Super Sweet Sixteen was on. I wanted to absolutely murder this stupid girl who was on. She was horrible to her mother and was always saying all this nasty stuff and telling her to shut up and sit down and leave her alone and stop being annoying. Hello, dumbass, your mother is dropping $180,000 on a fucking birthday party, quite your bitching and be a little more grateful. It was ridiculous. I honestly think if I ever saw that girl on the street I would not be able to resist punching her. It would be way too sweet.

Okay, I think that is enough incoherent rambling for now, it's nap time.